Hey y'all, according to the manual, you replace the air filter when the indicator tell you to do so. I have 24,000 miles on my truck now and the indicator hasn't moved. The manual even cautions about replacing the filter early as it would be a waste of money. However, I cannot believe at 24,000 miles that I haven't had to replace it, yet. I'm thinking about replacing it just because! What do y'all think about this?

 

I replace mine yearly whether it needs it or not. They aren't very expensive(as compared to the Donaldson's that the 6.0 used).

 

It usually comes down to what make you feel good regardless of the cost. If you feel it needs changed, then change it. Also clean the sponge pre-filter below it.

 

I didn't see a sponge pre-filter below it. Do all model years have it? How do you get to it?

 

Mine was trashed at 22k so best to take a close look at it. Had the check eng light and messages come up about the exhaust filter over capacity this past June while traveling in Wyoming. Long story short, codes cleared after shut down but took it to the dealer and they found it all came from filthy air filter. Costly lesson here. I get my filters through Amazon for about $18. The indicator had not moved so I wouldn't trust that.

 

Thanks for the reply. What was it that was trashed? Pre-filter or filter? As far as I know, I don't have a pre-filter.

 

The foam pre-filter is only for the smaller section. When you pull your filter out, you will notice a divider, and a smaller section of your filter looks practically clean/new. This design is in case the main part of the filter gets plugged with snow. the smaller half has the foam prefilter down in the filter housing. I typically replace that too, although it doesn't really need it.

 

By trashed I meant just plain filthy. Black with grime and dirt. Up to that time it had mostly been on blacktop roads. Later on lots of dusty dirty gravel roads in Northern Canada and Alaska. Mechanic showed me another trucks aftermarket filter that had been torn and shredded so I recommend to stick with the motorcraft replacement. I don't want that stuff being sucked into the turbo. Not worth the few bucks. Not sure about that pre-filter mentioned I'll have to take a closer look at that.

 

Yup. Nothing but Motorcraft is going into my truck.

 

Amazon here too at 23,000 miles but someone will soon post that this is a waste of money and they are correct. I've had my truck almost two years and changing the filter is so cheap.

bruce...

 

Can't trust the indicator guage, many of them don't work.

 

48k on my truck and it has had 3 filters in it. They are really cheap and it does not hurt my feelings or my pocket one bit to change early. I dont go off the indicator, I take it out and give a a look, sometimes I knock a little dirt off or just replace it!

 

Evidently, mine doesn't work either, I think it needs replacement. I just ordered one from Amazon!

 

Mine looks like this typically after about 5k miles, so gets replaced regularly!

Attachment 288621

 

Wow! Your's is very dirty. Mine looks clean compared to yours. I'll post a pic in 2 days when my new one gets here.